NewsBytes October 8, 2021
In this issue:
New FRA Leadership Elected at National Convention
DoD Report: Military Suicide Increasing
TRICARE Scheduled 2022 Pharmacy Co-pay Increases
New FRA Leadership Elected at National Convention
During the 93rd annual FRA National Convention held in Spokane Valley, Washington, the delegates unanimously elected National Vice President James W. Campbell (Branch 40) to the position of National President. Further, PRPSE James "Robbie" Robbins (Branch 126) was elected National Vice President.
The new Regional Presidents include:
Regional President North Central Maria A. Behm, Lake of the Ozarks Branch 32
Regional President South Central (2nd term) C. Ursula Gruetzner, Capital Area Branch 201
Regional President Northeast/New England Neil I. Ross, Buffalo Branch 23
Regional President Southwest (2nd term) Rogelio A. Bacud, San Gabriel Valley Branch 85
Regional President East Coast Christopher J. Murray, Chesapeake Branch 40
Regional President West Coast (2nd term) William L. Hanzel, Sunrise Branch 230
Regional President Southeast Jack M. Fogel, Crossville Tennessee Branch 294
Regional President Northwest Michelle Davis, Inland-Empire Branch 38
Shipmate PNP Bob Bease (Branch 335) was appointed parliamentarian and Shipmate Sam Lymon (Branch 40) was appointed National Chaplain. Following the election, the delegates installed the new officers and board. The above-mentioned Shipmates will serve until the next National Convention, which will be held in Birmingham, Alabama.
DoD Report: Military Suicide Increasing
The
Department of Defense (DoD) recently released its annual suicide report
with data from 2020. The report shows that military suicides increased
from 2015 to 2020. The active-duty suicide rate increased 15 percent
(504 to 580).
Among the services, the Army showed both the highest
suicide events and the highest rate. The rates by branch of service is
as follows:
· Army: 175 deaths at 36.4-per-100,000 soldiers.
· Navy: 66 deaths at 19.3-per-100,000 sailors.
· Marine Corps: 62 deaths at 33.9-per-100,000 Marines.
· Air/Space Force: 81 deaths at 24.3-per-1,000 airmen/guardians.
The
Reserves saw an increase from 18.2 to 21.4-per-100,000 between 2019 and
2020, undoing the notable drop seen in the previous year, when the rate
came down from 22.9 in 2018.
The FRA supports improvements of the
VA and DoD suicide prevention programs that reduce the rate of suicide
among veterans and active-duty service members.
TRICARE Scheduled 2022 Pharmacy Co-pay Increases
Delayed
TRICARE pharmacy co-pay increases opposed by the FRA and mandated by
Congress as part of the FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
will take effect Jan. 1, 2022. The FY2017 NDAA mandates pharmacy and
therapy increases every two years until 2027. The FRA is working to
repeal these arbitrary increases. The Defense Health Agency notes that
the military pharmacy (MTF) is still the lowest cost option for military
beneficiaries; as always, there is no cost for covered generic and
brand-name drugs at these pharmacies. The changes are as follows:
Pharmacy Home Delivery (up to 90-day supply)
· Generic formulary drugs co-pays increase from $10 to $12.
· Brand-name formulary drugs increase from $29 to $34.
· Non-formulary drugs increase from $60 to $68.
Retail network pharmacies (up to 30-day supply)
· Generic formulary drugs increase from $13 to $14.
· Brand-name formulary drugs increase from $33 to $38.
· Non-formulary drugs increase from $60 to $68.
Non-network pharmacies (up to 30-day supply)
·
Generic formulary drugs and brand-name formulary drugs will increase
from $33 to $38, or the co-pay will be 20 percent of the total cost of
the drug, whichever is greater, after meeting the annual deductible.
·
Non-formulary drugs will increase from $60 to $68, or the co-pay will
be 20 percent of the total cost of the drug, whichever is greater, after
meeting the annual deductible.
Previous increases in pharmacy co-pays occurred in 2018 and 2020. These changes in co-pays take effect Jan. 1, 2022.
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